Meeting to address crime in Corktown

It's one of Detroit's up and coming neighborhoods. Business is booming in Corktown, but so is crime.

"The restaurant is usually what we come here for," said Sameer Desai.

It is the oldest neighborhood in Detroit, but it has seen a rebirth in recent years. New businesses are coming to Corktown all the time which means more people and more opportunity for everyone.

"It is a very safe neighborhood, we've just had some crime unfortunately and we're working past that," said Ron Cooley, owner of Slows BBQ.

Last week thieves broke into two cars belonging to federal agents eating at the Batch Brewing Company. They stole their laptops and other equipment. They are among the multiple car thefts in the area that prompted business owners to put up these signs.

"Working with the current landowners of the parking lots that were here for years and years. There were 58,000 people who went to Tiger Stadium, those lots are here so we wanted to get them re-involved and open their lots back up so people can have secure parking and we are working on that and hopefully that will come to fruition very shortly," said Cooley.

The Corktown Business Association will host a meeting tonight to open up the lines of communication even further when it comes to a safety plan. Members of the Detroit Police Department along with state and local lawmakers are scheduled to take part.

Cooley said, "We have seen many scout cars in the neighborhood. We've seen a lot more activity, but we have to help them so we have to be their eyes and their ears and that's why we get together to remind each other how we can do that best."

In the meantime, people who come here are doing their best to protect themselves and their property. Common sense goes a long way.

"Just try to keep things out of sight in the car, like phones or iPods, or things like that or park where you can see it or on the street if possible, somewhere that's attended," said Mark Hamady.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. here at the IBEW building on Abbott Street. Now they do have crime safety meetings quarterly but because of the rising crime here in Corktown more people will likely attend this one.